Professional Life

IN A NUTSHELL:
- Programme Officer, United Nations World Food Programme (Sudan)
- Independent Film Maker
- Consultant-Donor Liaison and Proposal Writer - United Nations World Food Programme (Sri Lanka)
- Documentation Specialist  - SACOSAN IV ( South Asian Conference on Sanitation)

- Consultant Communications , The Asia Foundation, Sri Lanka

- Deputy National Project Coordinator, UNDP, Sri Lanka

- Deputy Director Communications, Govt Peace Secretariat (under President's office)

- Lecturer, Tec De Monterrey, Mexico

-Writer, Editor at IWMI (International Water Management Institute), Colombo

- English News Reader- Independent Television Network (ITN), Sri Lanka

- Reporter, Programme Presenter, Doordarshan and Asianet - Kerala, India

IN DETAIL:

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Independent Researcher / Film maker India/ Sri Lanka: Current Working on independent creative projects to aid visual story telling (documentary/ movies), communications strategies and project assessments on a freelance basis in the development sector.
 -  Developed a communications strategy for a Government of Canada- Sri Lanka project to promote bilingualism in Sri Lanka (Sep 2018)

- Wrote, directed, and produced my debut independent 70 min feature film – A week – filmed in India, which was selected by five international film festivals in India and Sri Lanka.

Consultant: The Asia Foundation, Sri Lanka, 2017

-          Conducted short survey of the 50-year old flagship program of the Asia Foundation Sri Lanka country office namely, Books for Asia

-          Conducted focussed group discussions and interviews to understand the effectiveness of the program

-          Developed a questionnaire

-          Compiled the assessment report for donor mobilisation with recommendations to improve the program.

Researcher, Internews, Sri Lanka, 2015

-          Conducted a media assessment to understand the capacity of the media and journalists, perceptions of the civil society organisations and other stakeholders

-          Assessed capacity and challenges of the media to cover the important issues in Sri Lanka, especially in the post-conflict phase. As such, issues of reconciliation, accountability, corruption were focussed on

Programme Officer: United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Sudan – September 2013- July 2014

-          Developed a methodology to conduct SWOT analysis

-          Facilitated group discussions to conduct SWOT analysis in the Country and field offices, across all units as a prerequisite to develop the Country Strategy

-          Drafted the country strategy

-          Compiled SWOT outcomes, which were incorporated into the Annual Work Plan

-          Drafted policy briefs and presentations for the Country Director for the Executive Board and other meetings

-          Coordinated and wrote the Standard Project Report (SPR)

-          Technical backstopping for operational reporting and communications needs

Senior Programme Officer – Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) – Colombo (Sep 2012- October 2013)

-          Designed, implemented, and monitored projects on democracy and gender

-          Networked and explored new implementing partners

-          Country office focal point of South Asia Media Barometer – a  South Asia region wide assessment to test the media environment

National Consultant / Proposal Writer – United Nations World Food Program, Sri Lanka (WFP- June 2011- April 30, 2012):

-          Drafted Sri Lanka country strategy

-          WFP focal point for UNDAF Sri Lanka

-          Explored funding opportunities

-          Developed concept notes and project proposals

Documentation Specialist, SACOSAN (South Asian Conference on Sanitation) Secretariat- Current: 
- Speech writing for VIPs
- Compile Conference Handbook
-Prepare weekly work plans
- Assist in documentation of the conference

Team Member – IASC 2011: Was an organizing Committee Member of the 13th Biennial Conference of IASC (The International Association for the Study of the Commons), held in Hyderabad, India, January 2011. IASC was  founded in 1989  and is headquartered in Mexico.

Consultant, Communications, The Asia Foundation, Sri Lanka: (2007-2010 Jan): 
- Devise communications strategy for the local governance programe
- Advocacy through the electronic media
- Production of a newsletter
-Drafting donor reports T

Consultant (June 2006- October 2006): Provided communications solutions to the private sector, national and international NGOs in Sri Lanka. 

- Write press releases
- Content writing for websites
- Co-author of the book “20 Years Uncovered, the MAS Story,” published by MAS Holdings, the leading multi-national apparel manufacturer.

In September 2006, worked for the Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka in organizing the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in Colombo.

Deputy National Project Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme (Sep 2005-May 2006):  Worked on the project aimed at supporting the empowerment and capacity development of local CBOs, small NGOs and local community groups in a post tsunami context.

Deputy Director, Communications: Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Sri Lanka (2003 July – 2005 September): SCOPP was established in February 2002. It originally functioned under the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and later under the President of Sri Lanka. 
- Maintain and organise the content of the official website
- Disseminate  information to the media and general public, researching news related to the Sri Lankan Peace Process, conducting interviews, writing peace-dividend stories, networking with journalists and media establishments, and liaising with diplomatic missions, ministries and other government departments.

Consultant – CIMMYT: (Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz Y Trigo) – Mexico, 2002 : 
Creation of  a variety of communication tools like brochures, posters and leaflets to market the Center and its research. This was in conjunction with a new global program that the Center had launched, which aimed to attract more women professionals across the world to join the Center.

Lecturer – Tec de Monterrey, Campus Toluca, Mexico, 2002: Worked as a part-time English lecturer at the above Campus. The work involved teaching on “writing skills” for a group of International Baccalaureate and Bicultural students.

Writer/ Editor – International Water Management Institute (IWMI),1997-2002 January: Was responsible for the conceptual development and writing of communications tools.  As an editor, was responsible for editing research reports, country papers, monographs, governance documents, proceedings of workshops, short reports etc.

News Reader-English – Independent Television Network (ITN), Sri Lanka, 1999-2000: Served as an interviewer and English News Reader.

Live Reporter – Doordarshan, India 1996: Covered the 1996 General Elections. Work entailed “on- the-spot” reporting of campaigning. It also entailed live interviews with politicians and the public.

Compere – Doordarshan, India 1995-96: Work entailed compilation and compering of varied programs covered by Doordarshan. It also involved impromptu compeering for programs and shows on an ‘on-call’ basis.

Program Presenter – ASIANET, India 1996: Program presenter for a weekly literary magazine-“Vayanasala” for Asianet. Work involved analysis and discussion of selected literary works, with an acclaimed critic.

Freelance Journalist - All India Radio (AIR) 1994-96: Was responsible for the compilation and production of a host of documentaries of diversified interest for AIR, on a contract basis.